Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

The present disclosure discloses a numerically-controlled plasma special-shaped cutting machine tool including a bracket, a cross beam, a feeding mechanism, a clamping mechanism, a gun head moving mechanism, a material conveying system, a material receiving device, a dedusting system, an electrical control system, and an outer cover. The present disclosure adopts plasma cutting, and the surface quality is obviously improved. Material conveying and cutting are performed by a predetermined program programmed in advance, and the dimensional precision of the machining is well ensured. Workers only need to place a workpiece material on the material conveying system, and the machine tool can perform automatic cutting. The labor intensity of the workers is greatly reduced, the cutting is continuously performed, and the machining efficiency is remarkably improved.

In some aspects, a replaceable consumable component for performing a cutting or welding operation can include a body and a readable data storage device coupled to the body or integrated within the body, wherein the data storage device contains an operation instruction for a cutting or welding device.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for plasma piercing a workpiece using a plasma cutting torch. According to one implementation the method includes providing the plasma cutting torch at a first pierce height above a workpiece to initiate a piercing operation at the first pierce height for a first duration, during the piercing operation, lowering the plasma cutting torch to a second pierce height above the workpiece for a second duration, and lowering the plasma cutting torch to a cut height.

A method is performed in a welding or cutting system, including a power supply to deliver a current through a weld circuit to a welding torch to create an arc. The method includes: measuring the current to produce a measured current; measuring a voltage on a sense point of the power supply or the weld circuit that is spaced from the welding torch, to produce a measured voltage that differs from the arc voltage by a voltage drop caused by the current and inductance of the weld circuit; compensating the measured voltage for the voltage drop using the measured current and an inductance value, to produce a compensated voltage; computing a derivative of the compensated voltage; computing a second derivative of the measured current; and upon determining the inductance value and the inductance differ based on the derivative and the second derivative, adjusting the inductance.

An execution plan segment of an execution plan can be received at a control unit of a computer numerically controlled machine from a general purpose computer. The execution plan segment can define operations for causing movement of a moveable head of the computer numerically controlled machine to deliver electromagnetic energy to effect a change in a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine. The execution plan segment can include a predefined safe pausing point from which the execution plan can be restarted while minimizing a difference in appearance of a finished work-product relative to if a pause and restart are not necessary. Operations of the computer numerically controlled machine can be commenced only after determining that the execution plan segment has been received up to and including the predefined safe pausing point by the computer numerically controlled machine.

A method of fabricating of an object includes causing a first heat source to heat a feed material to form a melt pool of the feed material on a surface. The method further includes causing a second heat source to heat the melt pool on the surface to regulate grain formation of the feed material in the melt pool as the melt pool cools and solidifies on the surface to form at least a portion of the object. The method also includes causing the first heat source and the second heat source to move relative to the surface as the melt pool is formed and cooled.

An example apparatus to monitor a welding-type system includes: a test signal generator configured to output a test signal to a monitored circuit; and a lock-in amplifier configured to: receive a reference signal based on the test signal; measure a leakage current in the monitored circuit based on the reference signal; and generate an output signal representative of the leakage current.

Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

According to one embodiment, a welding or plasma cutting system is provided that includes a torch having a torch body. Located on or in the torch body are one or more status indicators that provide, for example, a status of a process parameter (e.g. current data, pressure data, etc.) and/or of an operating mode of the torches. Control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators is configured to activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through use of the torch and to deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the torch. An associated method of operating the torch includes activating the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation by use of the torch, and during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by use of the torch, deactivating the one or more status indicators.